Neelo
Abida Riaz (Urdu: عابِدہ رِیاض , born Cynthia Alexander Fernandes on 30 June, 1940), better known as Neelo (Urdu: نِیلو ), is a film actress from Lahore, Pakistan and mother of the renowned film actor Shaan Shahid.[1]
Neelo نِیلو | |
|---|---|
| Born | Cynthia Alexander Fernandes 30 June 1940[1] |
| Other names | Abida Riaz |
| Occupation | Film actress |
| Years active | 1955–2005 |
| Spouse(s) | Riaz Shahid (died in October 1972)[2] |
| Family | Shaan Shahid (son) |
Early life and career
Neelo was born Cynthia Alexander Fernandes on 30 June 1940 in Bhera, Sargodha, Pakistan.[1] At age 16, she appeared in Bhowani Junction (1956), a Hollywood film shot in and around Lahore. She got her big breakthrough in Pakistani films when she performed on the song "Aaye mausam, rangilay suhanay" in the film Saat Lakh (1957) with music by the renowned music director Rasheed Attre.[1]
Controversies
In 1965, at the peak of her popularity, she was summoned by Malik Amir Mohammad Khan, then Governor of West Pakistan, to dance on stage for the Shah of Iran during his official visit to Pakistan; but she refused to do it for her own reasons. Harassed and threatened, Neelo faced dire consequences for refusing to obey official orders. She was allegedly gang molested and attempted suicide on the way to the Governor's house and was taken to a hospital instead, where the doctors saved her life.[2]
The renowned leftist poet Habib Jalib, on hearing of the incident, expressed his anguish in his poem over her attempted suicide: "Tu kay nawaqif-e-aadab-e-ghulami hae abhi.." Later this poem was used in the film Zarqa (1969) with slight changes in the words and ended up becoming a super-hit film song in Pakistan. The film song became much more relevant, effective and popular because it was picturised on Neelo herself and was based on similar real life events in Neelo's life. She also won the Best Actress Nigar Award for film Zarqa (1969). It had superb music by Wajahat Attre and sung by Mehdi Hassan.[2] Film Zarqa (1969) was produced and directed by Riaz Shahid who also wrote its screenplay. Neelo helped her husband, Riaz Shahid, produce this film and it became the best known film of her career.[1]
Personal life
Neelo was born into a Catholic family. Her birth name was Cynthia Alexander Fernandes. She adopted the name Abida Riaz after embracing Islam at the time of her marriage to film screenwriter and film director Riaz Shahid.[2]
Filmography
- 1956 Bhowani Junction
- 1956: Sabira
- 1957: Anjaam
- 1957: Bholey Khan
- 1957: Pasban
- 1957: Sehti
- 1957: Saat Laakh
- 1957: Yakke Wali
- 1957: Aankh Ka Nashah
- 1958: Akhri Nishan
- 1958: Changez Khan
- 1958: Darbar
- 1958: Jan-e-Bahar
- 1958: Jatti
- 1958: Kachian Kaliyan
- 1958: Mumtaz
- 1958: Nayi Larki
- 1958: Neya Daur
- 1958: Sheikh Chilli
- 1958: Zehr-e-Ishq
- 1959: Koel
- 1959: Lalkaar
- 1959: Lukkan Mitti
- 1959: Neend
- 1959: Shama
- 1959: Shera
- 1959: Sola Aanay
- 1959: Suchhey Moti
- 1959: Saathi
- 1959: Yaar Beli
- 1960: Alladin Ka Beta
- 1960: Ayaz
- 1960: Insaaf
- 1960: Khyber Mail
- 1960: Manzil
- 1960: Neelofar
- 1960: Shehzadi
- 1960: Street 77
- 1961: Bara Bajje[3]
- 1961: Do Raste[4]
- 1961: Subha Kahin Sham Kahin[4]
- 1962: Azra
- 1962: Banjaran
- 1962: Barsaat mein
- 1962: Darwaza
- 1962: Dosheeza
- 1962: Ghunghat
- 1962: Husn-o-Ishq
- 1962: Unche Mahal
- 1963: Barat
- 1963: Daaman
- 1963: Ishq par zor nahin
- 1963: Kala Aadmi
- 1963: Mouj Mela
- 1963: Qatal ke baad
- 1963: Shikwa
- 1963: Aman
- 1964: Beti
- 1964: Daachi
- 1964: Gehra Daagh
- 1964: Jugni
- 1964: Khyber Pass
- 1964: Mera Mahi
- 1964: Nehle peh Dehla
- 1964: Sher di Bachi
- 1965: Fareb
- 1965: Jeedar
- 1965: Raqqasa
- 1966: Abba Jee
- 1966: Ann Parh
- 1966: Badnaam
- 1966: Chughalkhor
- 1966: Laado
- 1966: Mr. Allah Ditta
- 1966: Naghma.e-Sehra
- 1966: Nizam Lohar
- 1966: Payal Ki Jhankar
- 1967: Chattan
- 1967: Dil Da Jani
- 1967: Neeli Baar
- 1967: Ravi Paar
- 1967: Sham Savera
- 1967: Yaar Maar
- 1968: Jag Beeti
- 1968: Lala Rukh
- 1968: Paristan
- 1968: Wohti
- 1969: Aukha Jatt
- 1969: Zarqa
- 1971: Karishma
- 1974: Khatarnaak
- 1975: Athra
- 1975: Balwant Kaur
- 1975: Dhan Jigra Maa Da
- 1975: Heera Phumman
- 1975: Izzat
- 1975: Jailor te Qaidi
- 1975: Mera Naa Patey Khan
- 1975: Rajjo
- 1975: Sir Da Badla
- 1975: Sultana Daku
- 1975: Watan Iman
- 1976: Ayyash
- 1976: Gangu Puttar Maa Da
- 1976: Jatt Kurrian Taun Darda
- 1976: Khaufnaak
- 1976: Kil Kil Mera Naa
- 1976: Pindiwal
- 1976: Wardat
- 1977: Ajj Dian Kurrian
- 1977: Akhri Goli
- 1977: Danka
- 1977: Jurm main keeta si
- 1977: Malikzada
- 1977: Mere Badshah
- 1977: Sadqay Teri Mout Tun
- 1977: Tera vi jawab nahin
- 1978: Chamman Khan
- 1978: Gharib da baal
- 1978: Ghunda
- 1978: Haidar Daler
- 1978: Inqalab
- 1978: Mazi, haal aur mustaqbil
- 1978: Nazrana
- 1978: Sharif Shehri
- 1978: Tax
- 1979: General Bakht Khan
- 1979: Mout meri zindagi
- 1979: Order
- 1980: Chhotay Nawab
- 1980: Heera Puttar
- 1982: Khatra 440
- 1989: Barood ki Chhaon
- 1990: Bulandi
- 1990: Jur'at
- 2013: Waar
Awards and recognition
- Nigar Award for Best Supporting Actress in film Koel (1959)
- Nigar Award for Best Supporting Actress in film Aman (1963)
- Nigar Award for Best Actress in film Zarqa (1969)
- Nigar Award- Special Awards, Millenium Award (1999)
References
- Profile of actress Neelo on cineplot.com website Retrieved 18 July 2018
- Socialist cinema: Habib Jalib and Riaz Shahid in Neelo's film Zarqa (1969) on Dawn (newspaper) Published 5 November 2014, Retrieved 18 July 2018
- Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 250. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
- Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 249. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.